How did Athenian democracy differ from modern representative democracy?

• A. Rule by elected representatives in periodic elections.
• B. Direct participation of male citizens in lawmaking, with limited eligibility and exclusions of women and slaves.
• C. Absolute monarchic authority over citizens.
• D. Universal suffrage for all residents.

Answer: (B)

Direct participation of eligible male citizens in lawmaking is the defining feature here. In Athens, the Assembly brought together free male citizens to debate and vote on laws and policies themselves, rather than sending representatives to decide for them. Many offices were filled by lot, not by election, which aimed to reduce the influence of wealth or birth. Yet participation was highly limited: women, slaves, and many non-citizens were excluded, and citizenship itself was restricted to a segment of the population. Modern representative democracy, by contrast, relies on citizens electing representatives who make laws on their behalf, and it often includes broader suffrage among adults. So this description best captures how Athenian democracy operated in contrast to contemporary systems.